Category: South West

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), has won the Attorney-General of the Year Award at the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards 2022.

The ceremony was held at the Landmark Event Centre, Oniru, Lagos.

Onigbanjo, represented by the Director, Administrator-General and Public Trustee, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, was honoured with the award in recognition of his outstanding performance on the job.

The organisers said it was also in recognition of Onigbanjo’s immense contributions to the transformation of justice delivery and promotion of the rule of law.

“In the past three years, the Attorney-General of Lagos State has made giant strides towards improvement in the timeframe of justice delivery, the introduction of novel laws, the review of old laws (amendments) and the consistent promotion of citizens’ rights.

“It is on this basis that Onigbanjo is being conferred with this award based on his proven track record as a leader, whose contributions are exemplary and deserving, as well as his dogged support for the development of the legal profession in the state,” the organisers said.

Read Also: Lagos reiterates commitment to reducing child abuse

The commissioner was also praised for the work ongoing in the dispute resolution space, “while ensuring that novel practices are introduced in the dispute resolution mechanisms, which have contributed to the expansion of the legal system.”

Partner and Head of Operations, ESQ, Mrs. Temitayo Samuel, said the awardees went through levels of review before the final recommendation was made by the panels.

“This means we are honouring these individuals, law firms and corporate in-house legal departments today because their work was truly exceptional in the effort of nation-building. They deserve our recognition and gratitude,” she said.

The ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards represents the first and the most prestigious category of legal awards in the history of the Nigerian legal business.

It is organised by ESQ Training Ltd, publishers of ESQ Legal Practice Magazine, and has been endorsed by the Nigerian Bar Association, British Nigerian Law Forum and the Nigerian Lawyers Association (US).

Arewa community in the Southwest has engaged stakeholders in Osun and Ekiti states to galvanise votes for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the 2023 general election.

They said the emergence of Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Osun State governor would not affect the winning chance of Asiwaju Tinubu, adding that the APC presidential candidate should expect massive votes from their members in the Southwest and Nigeria.

The Chairman of APC Southwest Arewa community, Alhaji Sa’adu Dandare, in a statement he issued after a meeting with Arewa community in Osun and Ekiti states, said issues affecting the party in Osun State, which led to their loss to the PDP in the governorship poll, will be addressed if Tinubu is elected.

Read Also: Igbo must reflect on reality of Tinubu’s presidency – Nnamani

He said: “Presidential election is a national election. That PDP won in Osun doesn’t mean the same thing will happen in 2023 presidential election in the state.”

Dandare urged Nigerians to look beyond ethnicity or religion, but should vote for Tinubu, who would take the nation to the promised land.

The Special Adviser (SA) to Ogun State governor on Inter Ethnic Affairs, Hadi Sani and SA to Ekiti governor on Arewa and Ethnic Affairs, Useni Bawa, said the meeting was to canvass votes for Asiwaju Tinubu, adding that their members were also sensitised and educated on the benefits of voting for the APC standard-bearer.

Traditional rulers and leaders of thought in Yewaland have supported Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun’s second term ambition.

The Yewa monarchs and the Olu of Ilaro, who is the paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, said Governor Abiodun’s tenure had brought development to Yewaland and Ogun West Senatorial District.

Speaking on behalf of the 42 monarchs at the secretariat of the Yewa Traditional Council in Ilaro, Oba Olugbenle said the royal fathers unanimously opted for Governor Abiodun after they had told their subjects vying for the number one position to shelve their ambition.

The monarch, berating the decision of a governorship candidate from the axis to reject the advice of the council on the need to shelve his ambition, said his refusal was an embarrassment to the council

Oba Olugbenle, however, said the royal fathers were not perturbed by the candidate’s rude behaviour, rather, they were solidly behind Governor Abiodun, who he described as “a man of his words”.

“Since you became governor, we have seen tremendous changes and development in the state of our infrastructure in Yewaland. You are a man of your words. What you promised to do, you have done. Your success at the polls in 2023 is a done deal. We are with you,” he said.

The monarch, who hailed the governor for his efforts at ensuring the timely completion of the Ilaro-Owode road, said the royal fathers would join their voices with that of the state government to request for the funds spent to repair the road.

Read Also: Ogun residents, APC supporters stage walk for Tinubu, Abiodun

The Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, commending the governor for bringing development to the town through the completion of Oke-Ola road, said the indigenes and residents were behind the governor and would ensure his victory at the polls.

The Olu of Imasayi, Oba Luqmon Kuoye, lauded the governor for the yellow roof initiative, which had led to the rehabilitation of many public schools and health centres in the state, particularly in Ogun West.

Governor Abiodun thanked the traditional rulers for their support and prayers.

He pledged to accelerate development in Yewaland, noting that the senatorial district, being the industrial hub of the nation, had contributed to the growth of the state.

On the Tongeji Island, Abiodun told the monarchs that the state government was working to explore oil deposits in the area, to ensure the state is accorded oil producing status.

RATHER than have them sit at home and waste away, the government can engage senior citizens in the area of surveillance security. This will help combat growing insecurity and enhance peace across board.

This much was stated by the National President of the Senior Citizens’ Association of Nigeria (SCAN), Elder Joseph Kayode Taiwo, as the group gathered to celebrate recently at the Lagos State Leisure Park Ikorodu, Lagos.

“Government can use us as security surveillance. We sit down at home while others go to work, we know what’s happening around. So, if they empower us with phones and other necessary gadgets, whenever we see any strange movement, we’ll call the police or the appropriate authority,” he said.

The occasion, which was aptly tagged: ‘Fun at Ikorodu,’ coincided with Nigeria’s independence Anniversary, and had their family members, members of the press, security personnel, amongst others in attendance amidst lots of music, food and drinks.

A major highlight of the event was the endless rendition of evergreen music from yesteryears, with the senior citizens strutting their stuff on the dance floor.

THE families of Ayeko-Falore and Oshobu in Ilesha, Osun State have announced the burial programmes of the families’ matriarch, Madam Alice Jolaade Falore, nee Oshobu.

The late Falore died on 11th September, 2022, aged 92 years.

According to a statement by the family, the burial programme will commence on Wednesday, November 9th, with the traditional Woro dance/walk round the town. This will be followed by a service of songs by the Cathedral Women Organisation at the family compound, L 86A, Ifosan Street, Ilesa Osun State.

On Thursday, November 10th, the corpse will leave the Temitope Funeral Home at 10am, while the lying-in-state will hold at U18 Idasa Street, Ilesa, between 10am and 10:30am. The body will move to L86A Ifosan Street, where another lying-in-state will hold at 12 noon. Activities for the day would be rounded off with a wake keep at Kings Hotel, Ife Road, opposite the state High Court.

The Funeral Service will hold on Friday at the St John’s Cathedral, Iloro, Ilesa at 10 am. Interment will follow immediately after at the Cathedral Cemetery, Oke Oye Street, Ilesa.

THE Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) codenamed Amotekun Corps, has flagged “Operation Gba’le Gba’ko,” to check crimes and criminality along the borders of the Ondo and Osun States.

It said operation was a joint border patrol to check criminal activities on highways ahead of Yuletide celebration. Chairman of the Corps Commanders and Commander of Ondo Amotekun, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said such collaboration would be extended to other states.

Adeleye disclosed that 340 victims of robbery and kidnap operations were rescued while 80 snatched vehicles were recovered in 2021.

His words, “Last year when the Ondo State and the Osun State inter border patrol commenced, we recorded very huge success. We were able to dismantle a number of kidnappers’ cells, we were able to arrest kidnappers, we were able to recover illegal arms and weapons, we were able to release kidnap victims, we were able to arrest kidnap suspects, we were able to arrest armed robbers.

“This operation is tagged: “Operation Gba’ko” which means we want to ensure sanity both at home and in the forest, on the road, on the sea, everywhere within the Southwest part of this country.

On his part, Brigadier General Aderounbi, the Amotekun Commander of Osun State, said the operation would improve security to lives and property of people in the Southwest region.

AS the nation struggles with a number of issues affecting its social,  economic and political values,  many have continued to identify what has gone wrong,  how to get back on track as well as discover new opportunities for everyone.

One recent attempt was done from the creative lenses.Here, Tiffany-Annabelle takes Nigerians and art enthusiasts through what has been described as an unfiltered reality of Nigeria in deconstruction of the Coat of Arms.

Tagged Behind the Coat this is her second Nigerian solo exhibition. Creatively,  Tiffany-Annabelle takes apart the Nigerian Coat of Arms to reveal her interpretation of the current state of Nigeria. Through the deconstruction of this emblem of national prosperity, Tiffany-Annabelle uncovers its inconsistency with Nigeria’s current condition.

This exhibition entitled “Behind the Coat” began on October 29th at Miliki, Victoria Island. Tiffany-Annabelle explores this idea,through  screen-printing with acrylics on canvas, while maintaining her signature style in the use of triangles. Although she enters new territory in terms of her medium, she vastly explores the dichotomy between national excellence and a struggling nation by using the Coat of Arms as a metaphor.

TWO labourers in Osogbo capital of Osun State were yesterday trapped inside well while working inside. The Nation learnt. It was gathered that the incident happened around Zone 5A, Oke Arungbo Community, Dada Estate, Osogbo around 10: 45 AM while the two labourers were cleaning the well.

A source around the area who confided in our correspondent explained that the two labourers named Tiamiyu and Sikiru came to clean a well in our area but while they were working in the well, they got trapped inside.

He continued, “some of us contacted the fire service who later rescued one of them alive while the corpse of the other was evacuated.” When contacted, the spokesperson of Osun State Fire Service, Ibrahim Adekunle, confirmed the incident.

He said, “We received a distress call from Dada Estate, Osogbo that two men were trapped in a well. The team mobilized immediately to scene and was led by Principal Fire Superintendent 1, Adegoke Sesan.

“Men of the Federal Fire Service too joined us at the scene of the incident. The body of the two men were recovered with one alive and taken to the undisclosed hospital by resident, while the other was dead and handed over to the police.

“The victim was one Mr Sikiru Taiwo Tiamiyu of about 38years who came to clean up the well for the owner.

“Same incident occurred in the same well on 19th October 2022. The victim of the 19th of October who was a technician that came to repair the coil of the pumping machine got electrocuted and died on the spot while his partner was rescued alive and taken to the hospital.”

AISHA Tijani of Crescent College Victoria Island, Lagos, has emerged the overall winner of the 2022 Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria (ESGN) annual essay competition held in Lagos.

Udom God’s Favour of Prudence City College and Femi Olafuyi from Rainbow College, became the 1st and 2nd Runner-ups, respectively. Tijani got a trophy and N50, 000 cash prize, the first runner-up got N30, 000, and the second runner-up, went home with N20, 000 as consolation prizes.

ESGN Senior Secondary Schools Essay Competition was designed to engage girls and adolescents in the topical issue of endometriosis and its effects on women of childbearing age.

Tijani also acted as one-day Country Manager of AstraZeneca, Nigeria in Commemoration of the International Day of The Girl child. She had a team’s meeting with the entire staff of Astra Zenica Nigeria and joined the AstraZeneca Global Girl Child Meeting where she had a Zoom meeting with other girls from countries like Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi said that the need to sensitise teenagers and adolescents in the awareness campaign against endometriosis cannot be overemphasized.”